Funeral for North Carolina grandmother held a day after murder arrests
Apr 13, 2025
YOUNGSVILLE, N.C. (WNCN) -- A funeral was held Saturday for a grandmother who was killed in a drive-by shooting earlier this month near Youngsville.
Bernice Pender was shot at a home along Bert Winston Road the night of April 1 and two suspects were arrested Friday in her death, according to Fran
klin County Sheriff Kevin White.
Pender's family and friends gathered for a memorial at Kinches Chapel Christian Church in Franklinton on Saturday.
"We are devastated by her untimely and senseless loss," her granddaughter Jasmine Pender wrote on a GoFundMe page. "As a family, we were not prepared for such a tragedy."
Meanwhile, images were released from the Friday arrests of Jaquan Lynch, 23, of Durham and Donavan Boyd, 22, of Warrenton, who are charged with first-degree murder, White said.
Bernice Pender in a photo from the Franklin County Sheriff's Office.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation announced that "several firearms" were among the items found when the arrests were made.
The scene where Pender was killed included dozens of spent shell casings and bullet holes in the house.
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A photo from the NCSBI showed a wall of 10 guns -- ranging from "assault rifles" to a Diamondback Tactical Pistol, a snakeskin-wrapped handgun, and an old-fashioned lever-action rifle.
Various guns and a flamethrower (bottom center) found during the arrests of the suspects in the killing of Benice Pender. Photo courtesy: NCSBI
Also mounted on the wall was an item called a Pulsefire, which had a triangular item attached to it.
A Pulsefire is a brand of flamethrower that the company bills as the "most advanced and powerful" product. The Pulsefire pictured from NCSBI appears to be a model designed for mounting under the barrel of a rifle.
"With the same 25-foot reach, this compact configuration maximizes versatility," the Pulsefire website said about the under-barrel mounted version, which can shoot flames 25 feet.
The arrests of Boyd and Lynch on Friday involved several agencies, according to the NCSBI.
In addition to Franklin County deputies, the Wake Forest Police Department, the Burlington Police Department, and the Warren County Sheriff's Office were involved.
Photos from the case of the killing of Bernice Pender
Franklin County Sheriff Kevin White (right) with one of the suspects arrested Friday in the killing of Bernice Pender. NCSBI photoPhoto courtesy: NCSBIVarious guns found during the arrests in the killing of Bernice Pender. Photo courtesy: NCSBIOne of the suspects arrested on Friday. Photo courtesy: NCSBIPhoto courtesy: NCSBIA flamethrower (left) among guns found during the arrest of suspects Friday in the killing of Bernice Pender. Photo courtesy: NCSBIBernice Pender. Photo courtesy: Franklin County Sheriff's Office Various guns found during the arrests Friday. NCBSI photo
Photos from the NCSBI showed a tactical unit with a special ramming vehicle outside the home where at least one suspect was found.
Sheriff White spoke out Friday afternoon about the case after the arrests.
"Drugs, thugs, and gang-related violence should never be tolerated on the streets of our beautiful communities," White wrote on Facebook. "Let this be a lesson to everyone. If you hurt one of my people, I don’t care how far you run, I will personally go to the ends of the Earth to hunt you down."
The scene of one arrest in the killing of Bernice Pender. Photo courtesy: NCBSI
Pender's family continues to recover from her killing, according to her granddaughter. But, she says it is an "incredibly difficult time."
"We are deeply grateful for your support, thoughts, prayers, and any help you can offer," Jasmine Pender wrote on GoFundMe.
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